BrainWaves
BrainWaves
1982 American film
BrainWaves[lower-roman 1] is a 1982 American science fiction thriller film co-written and directed by Ulli Lommel, and starring Keir Dullea, Suzanna Love, Vera Miles, Paul Willson, Percy Rodriguez, Tony Curtis, Corinne Wahl, and Eve Brent. It follows a woman whose brain function is restored by a computer, with dangerous consequences.
| BrainWaves | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Ulli Lommel |
| Written by |
|
| Produced by | Ulli Lommel |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Jon Kranhouse |
| Edited by | Richard S. Brummer |
| Music by | Robert O. Ragland |
Production company | CinAmerica[1] |
| Distributed by | Motion Picture Marketing |
Release date |
|
Running time | 77 minutes[2] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $2.5 million[1] |
| Box office | $3,111[3] |
- Keir Dullea as Julian Bedford
- Suzanna Love as Kaylie Bedford
- Vera Miles as Marian Koonan
- Ryan Seitz as Danny Bedford
- Percy Rodriguez as Dr. Robinson
- Paul Willson as Dr. Schroder
- Tony Curtis as Dr. Clavius
- Eve Brent as Miss Simpson
- Corinne Wahl as Leila Adams
- Nicholas Love as Willy Meiser
Principal photography occurred at the Pettis Memorial Veterans Administration Hospital in Loma Linda, California, with additional shooting taking place in San Francisco.[1] Filming completed in April 1982.[5]
Box office
BrainWaves was given a limited regional theatrical release through Motion Picture Marketing, opening on November 19, 1982, in Austin, Texas[6] and Newport News, Virginia.[7] It earned $3,111 during its theatrical run.[3]
Critical response
Patrick Taggart of the Austin American-Statesman wrote of the film: "It is all absolute twaddle and would have been unbearable had there not been the elements of a murder mystery to keep us interested. Brainwaves is about one pulse away from being braindead."[2] Henry Edgar of the Daily Press gave the film a mixed review, noting that "the idea is intriguing and offer potentional for a true thriller. But the action plods so slowly you might fall asleep before you realize why a more skillful director could keep you awake all night with the same plot."[8]
Time Out published a retrospective review in 2012, describing the film as "a black hole for fading stars in which Dr. Curtis kindly operates on the heroine (Love) who is in a coma after suffering a traumatic blow to the brain. The donor is a murder victim, unexpectedly supplying not only motor reflexes but memories, so that the poor recipient is soon being stalked herself."[9]
Home media
Embassy Home Entertainment released BrainWaves on VHS in 1986.[10] Image Entertainment released a DVD edition of the film in 2002.[11]
- The film was also released in a truncated cut under the alternate title Shadow of Death.[4]
- De Leon, John (March 9, 1982). "VA Hospital stars in sci-fi thriller". The San Bernardino Sun. p. 28 – via Newspapers.com.
- Taggart, Patrick (November 20, 1982). "'Brainwaves' manages only a feeble pause". Austin American-Statesman. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
- "BrainWaves". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
- Lentz 2001, p. 925.
- "'BrainWaves' filming ends". The Arizona Republic. April 18, 1982. p. 78 – via Newspapers.com.
- "BrainWaves advertisement". Austin American-Statesman. November 19, 1982. p. E3 – via Newspapers.com.
- "BrainWaves advertisement". Daily Press. November 19, 1982. p. 42 – via Newspapers.com.
- "'Brainwaves' Lacks Intensity". Daily Press. November 22, 1982. p. 30 – via Newspapers.com.
- BrainWaves (VHS). Embassy Home Entertainment. 1986 [1982]. OCLC 14918549.
- BrainWaves (DVD). Image Entertainment. 2002 [1982]. OCLC 52506419.
- Lentz, Harris M. (2001). Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy Film and Television Credits: Filmography (Second ed.). Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland. ISBN 978-0-786-40942-6.
